Categories

Entries should consist of building projects that show a wide range of wood product applications and demonstrate an understanding of the special qualities of wood, such as strength, durability, beauty and cost-effectiveness. Projects whose main structural components use treelike tropical/semitropical grasses such as bamboo are not eligible for submission.

All projects completed in the period between January 1st, 2012 and October 15th, 2017 are eligible for entry [except previous winning projects of the Wood Design & Building Awards].

A jury of prominent architects from Canada and the U.S. will review all entries based on various considerations such as creativity, appropriate use of wood materials in satisfying clients’ building and site requirements and innovative design.

The Architectural Interior Design Category includes the significant use of wood finishing in any type of building interior.

Category 4Remodeled – Non Residential Remodeled – Residential

The Remodeled Buildings Category may involve modifications to the building exterior, interior or both. Kitchen and bathroom modifications alone are not eligible, nor are single room improvements that do not include structural changes. Landscaping projects and other outdoor works are eligible, however, the use of wood should have architectural merit.

Category 5International Building

The International Building Category includes all buildings both non-residential and residential that were built outside of North America.

Category 6Other – Exterior Structures, Bridges etc.

Sponsorship Categories

All submitted projects will automatically be considered for Special Awards: the SFI Sponsorship Award, Real Cedar Sponsorship Award, Sansin Award and the Canadian Wood Council Award.

SFI Sponsorship Award – presented to a project (either residential or non-residential) that utilizes products certified to the SFI standard.

Canadian Wood Council Award – presented to a project that showcases excellence and innovation in wood design.

Guidelines

The use of wood as a primary, but not necessarily exclusive, structural material is the overriding criterion for project eligibility. All types of residential and non-residential buildings are eligible. Landscaping projects and other outdoor works are also eligible; however, the use of wood should have architectural merit. Mention should be made of all green building attributes. In remodeled structures, only the new additional or renovated portions of existing buildings require an overall wood structural component.

Projects need not include all of these applications but should demonstrate a variety of them.

Structure

Buildings should have mainly a wood structure of light frame, heavy timber or a combination that makes use of sawn lumber, and/or engineered wood such as glued-laminated timber, laminated veneer lumber, parallel strand lumber, I-joists and panels.

Exterior

Wood siding, wood panel products, patterned lumber, wood shingles or shakes are preferred but not essential. Other claddings can also be used. Wood or clad wood windows and doors, mouldings and trim are preferred but are not essential. Wood decks, trellises, gazebos and landscape features used to enhance a building are not in themselves eligible.

Interiors

Wood doors, mouldings, paneling, flooring and cabinets that enhance the building interior will be considered, however, for the Interior Design category, project interiors must show significant use of these elements to be considered.

Awards

Honor, Merit and Citation awards will be given at the discretion of the jury. Framed Award certificates and one copy of the 2017-18 Celebrating Excellence in Wood Architecture will be distributed in the spring of 2018.